The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-07-27
MY TWIN BROTHER.

/ When | arose on the morning of my
| twentieth birthday, and nodded merrily
to my own reflection in the glass, the
bright young face that laughed back at
me was that of u handsome, happy, and
very fortunate girl
Good morning, Miss Lydia Searle,"
said. And if all goes we'll with Us YOU
won't be Miss Lydia Searle at all this
time next year, but Mrs. Harry Hatten,
instead
1t wanted but three weeks of my we'd
ding-day. was as happy as | was busy
just then, for | loved the man whose
bride | was so soon TO become, with all
young girls warm, untried affec-
ton
Better than any one in the world but
Tom,' thought. And surely nobody
ever could or ought TO be dearer TO me
than Tom"
Tom was my twin brother. The usual
strong affection existing between twins
was exceptionally powerful in our case
from circumstances.
One of Us was born strong and robust
and the other frail and small Notwith-
standing my sex, was the favored one
by nature, while Tom was the weakly
twin
That was the first of his misfortune.
which naturally gave him claim on me,
and at the same time attached him to me
and made him cling to me as heartier,
manlier boy would not have done. The
second misfortune was that he resembled
our father
Poor fellow As if he could help that
And vet Uncle Elliott resented it in
him just as if he had been to blame for
il.
Not fraction of my money shall 90
TO the second Tom Searle,r he used to
say.
And he kept his word. He had adopt
ed US at poor mothers death Our father
had died years before. He gave Us both
a good education, and got Tom position
in bank but when he died Just a
year before that twentieth birthday of
mine-I was his sole heiress.
1t grievdd me terribly loved Tom
better far than myself, and would have
shared anything with him but he WAS
proud, poor dear, and wouldn't hear of
such thing.
80 the best | could do was to spend as
much money upon him as possible, and
lend him all he wanted to use. He had
no objection 10 that. because, as he would
say
Some of these DAYS, when Pun partner
in the bank, I'll pay it all back again,
Lyddy."
And, of course, it was quite probable
that some day be would be partner, since
was about to be married 10 the bank
er's only son and heir.
| was puzzled sometimes to know
what Tom did with So much money he
had ~sieculations ON hand he told me.
thought that perhaps he was rather ex-
tEiya CAN'T, too--periaps Inclined to be
Wild
lie is 50 Young and 50 handsome" |
thought.
! was always making excuses for him
to myself: but, of course, common sense
taught me that if he would be steadier,
and attend to business better. hischances
of promotion at the bank would be i'm
proved.
As thought of him ON that birthday
morning-of course, it was his birthday
too-the face in the glass ceased to smile,
and new anxiety crept into my
thoughts, | was thinking of the night
before.
Tom had acted very strangely. had
lain awake a long time thinking of it last
night and vague uneasiness smote meas
remembered it now what could have
allied him?
He had come in, at about ten O'Clock,
to the little parior where Harry and
were sitting together, and had remained
with US. restless, agitafed, nervous. and
showing 50 plainly that he wished TO sse